TY - JOUR
T1 - Crafters, explorers, innovators, and co-creators – Narratives in designers’ identity work
AU - Björklund, Tua
AU - Keipi, Teo
AU - Maula, Hanna
PY - 2020/5/1
Y1 - 2020/5/1
N2 - The role of designers is changing in many organizations, yet we know little of how designers themselves construct their professional identities. Based on 38 interviews of designers working in a design agency, we use Bakhtinian literary genres and chronotopes as a lens to identify four embedded narrative types. These highlight different aspects of designers’ work, including different constructions of design – ranging from craftmanship and exploration to innovations and co-creation. Novelty, learning and community emerged as fundamental constructs within designer identity. Furthermore, identity work in each narrative was connected to different types of triggering situations and contextual promoters. The analysis illuminates the multifaceted and situated nature of professional identity work, emphasizing the need to examine design embedded in its context.
AB - The role of designers is changing in many organizations, yet we know little of how designers themselves construct their professional identities. Based on 38 interviews of designers working in a design agency, we use Bakhtinian literary genres and chronotopes as a lens to identify four embedded narrative types. These highlight different aspects of designers’ work, including different constructions of design – ranging from craftmanship and exploration to innovations and co-creation. Novelty, learning and community emerged as fundamental constructs within designer identity. Furthermore, identity work in each narrative was connected to different types of triggering situations and contextual promoters. The analysis illuminates the multifaceted and situated nature of professional identity work, emphasizing the need to examine design embedded in its context.
KW - design expertise
KW - design practice
KW - psychology of design
KW - creativity
KW - professional identity
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.destud.2020.02.003
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85081660708&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.destud.2020.02.003
DO - 10.1016/j.destud.2020.02.003
M3 - Article
SN - 0142-694X
VL - 68
SP - 82
EP - 112
JO - Design Studies
JF - Design Studies
ER -